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Run-Ins
I would not usually air my views publicly, but I feel that something I witnessed on Wednesday 20th November is worth sharing with the rest of the DaC fleet.
   I work nights and like most drivers, have noticed the decline in work both on the street and also on the radio. The feedback that I get from talking to employees of the major City accounts is that there are further staff cutbacks due in the New  Year and that they are looking for savings in all areas, including their taxi account usage. Nothing new there you say. However that evening, I gave my call sign to the marshal on the Finz and parked up in Dominion Street. In no time  I was given a ride out of one of our major clients.
   Being a night worker, you normally get a ride from this account at least once a night and sometimes a lot more. I have found that if you start the meter in Eldon Street, the run in amount on arrival will be around £2.80 to £3. I arrived with £3, but as I turned around from Old Broad St, there was a cab in front of me with £5 on his meter and after I made contact with my passenger, another cab pulled up in front of me with £5.20 on his meter. He went in, called his passenger and by the time he returned, there was £5.60 on the clock. You don't have to be a genius to work out that with a few minutes wait, the clock is going to be pushing £10. This is just suicidal. To those who abuse the run-in, just think about it, if our clients are thinking of moving their account to save money, your greed could be just the excuse that they are looking for. Trading conditions are difficult enough at the moment, don't make it any harder, we can't afford to lose any business. Don't just think about yourselves, look at the bigger picture. Most of us adhere to the rules, what makes you think you should be any different?
Dave Ellis (J11)
Thanks for your letter Dave. Allen Togwell has answered it in his column. I have also deleted a direct reference to the client's name ...Ed

A Question For Vince...
I am trying to transfer some of my old LP's onto a PC hard drive for converting onto CD. I'm told it can be done quite easily. I mistakenly asked a computer expert and as expected, their ability to convey instructions in simple layman's language is beyond them. I have the correct leads etc and have the sound coming through my PC audio system, but I have not a clue how to save it to the hard drive. Can Vince Chin help?
Len Bell (L01)
See this month's Computer Chinchat...Ed

Letting Off Gas?
I am a Call Sign on-line reader and my name is Leon Meltzer. I'm a former taxi driver from Barnsley who went to Australia in 1989 and have settled in Queensland. Firstly, I'd like to thank you for putting Call Sign on-line. Many of my former UK friends now residing over here read it and it helps keep us in touch with the old homeland.
   I've now read in several issues about the problems you are now facing with EEC emission regulations and I have no comment to make either way on the actual subject, but what I can say is that comments referring to the low cost of LPG gas may not stay true for long.
   In Aussie, LPG prices have soared, forcing some gas conversion businesses to the wall and prompting taxi drivers to call for higher booking fees to meet the mounting costs. The Australian Automobile Association figures show average LPG prices have risen from 28c a litre in February 1999 to more than 50c now. Prices peaked at 56c a litre in December 2000, but decreased steadily to 39c until July, 

Selling For Profit or Loss?
Are Members not concerned that the only response to a hostile takeover by a predator / competitor, which leads to deterioration in earnings and / or working conditions, is to vote with ones feet? Fifty years of Dial-a-Cab: Walk away!
   A hostile takeover does not necessarily mean that Sovereign Capital would be selling their interest for a profit. It would follow that DaC and its shareholders / drivers may not be worth considerably more than the original price and could, in fact, be worth less. Shares can go up and down in price.
   Finally, may I wish a Happy and prosperous New Year to everyone involved with Dial-a-Cab.
Mark White (B86)
Brian Rice replies: I hope you will forgive me Mark, but I am not entirely sure what you mean. A hostile takeover is when one is forced to sell; I am not sure who is being forced? You also state that Sovereign would not necessarily be selling their interest for a profit - then why would they sell? Finally Mark, yes you are correct that share prices can go up as well as down.

Trevor Clarke's Memories Of John Saunders
I was saddened to hear of the death of John Saunders recently and can only start by extending both Jeanette and my sympathies to Anne and Kate. John was the first Board member I came across in February 1986, as half the Board were in Canada evaluating the MDI Data System and John was designated as Acting Chairman. In conversation with him even then, his health was not 100% as he had spent a short period off of the Board of Management whilst having previous surgery. However, it was very apparent that over the many years he had through his position as a Dispatcher and then Control Room Manager/Liaison Officer, that he had maintained a close affinity with the drivers - his members. Throughout the whole of the time that he was a Board member and after, his attitude was always that the members came first. Not withstanding that, the short period that he was appointed Complaints Officer - whilst this was contrary to his nature - he filled the role as was required under the Society's rules.
   John was always hospitable at all Society events and could always be relied upon to be the life and soul of any gathering, whether it be with members, staff or clients.
   John's untimely death further reduces the surviving Board members who have served the Society for the past 50 years and the members have lost a drivers man...
Trevor Clarke
Bishops Stortford, Herts     

Dutch London Taxi Club
Since I met you at the Taxi Driver of the Year day in September Alan, I have got a voluntary job as webmaster to the Dutch London Taxi Club. I know some of your readers are interested in vintage London taxis, so I hope you can mention us. In January 2003 I hope that we will have a complete new site with an English section and articles about the London Taxi. The Dutch London Taxi Club (DLTC) is an association of London taxi owners and our aim is the maintenance of this historic vehicle. An archive is being developed and meanwhile many workshop manuals, parts catalogues, brochures and related articles have been collected and a CD was made. International contacts are being maintained with associate organisations and relative information is being exchanged.
Thanks and maybe I will see you next year by the Taxidrivers of the Year day.
The addresses are: www.dutchlondontaxiclub.nl and info@dutchlondontaxiclub.nl 
Remi Kemperman
Almere, Holland
Remi drives the only TX1 in Holland ... Ed

Musings of a Marshal
At long last I have now positioned myself in front of my computer to write a letter to
Call Sign. Over the last couple of years as a Dial-a-Cab Marshal, I have had the pleasure of meeting many of our subscribers. It goes without saying that we have the most diverse selection of witty, intelligent, deep thinking, comical, generous, happy go lucky drivers any radio circuit could have.  Many of them could hold their own in a university.Whilst either standing in the freezing cold on Finsbury Square or London Wall, you can be sure to be met with a happy, warm smiling face telling me how hot it is in their cab! It is the likes of Steve Shaller, with his droll sense of humour, Kupkake with his poetic licence, Mike Daley and his "Block Booking" of friends who keep me going. To the many drivers who have offered me a cup of tea, thanks Bill! To Fox 7 - whoever he is - with his Kodak brownie, thinking he's Patrick Lichfield and the many individual drivers that make up the diverse components of the Taxi Trade, thank you for making my time as a Marshal such a
pleasure.
   Whilst on Finsbury Square - now renamed Agony Aunt Comer - I get all the complaints
regarding short journeys, drivers booking in too early, the takeover bid, mother-in-law
problems, sexual and behavioural problems and every other complaint you can
mention. Maybe I should set up a confession booth so that they can pour out their souls in private! To the driver who offered to buy my taxi, my answer to him is no. It's worth more
than a cheese sandwich and a cup of tea!
   To all those drivers whom I've met, I would like to take this opportunity to wish them a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year and to thank them for making my job so enjoyable. To those few drivers who I may have upset by being a little bit strict with procedure, I also wish you a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. No Hard Feelings!
   Can I also thank everyone who supports the Marshals at Eurostar on Sundays. It is imperative that we give them a five star service so that the opposition cannot get a look in. Train arrival times are put out onto your terminals for your benefit, so please continue to give us your fantastic support.
   As a last word, to all those drivers who gave me such a ribbing over my job from Holloway to
   Battersea recently, I can only say how perverted some of you are and how jealous you were of me!
Gerry Dunn (S84)
See the May 2002 issue of Call Sign to remind yourself exactly what Gerry saw occurring (through his interior mirror) taking place on his taxi back seat! ...Ed

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